E-Books Make Readers Less Isolated

[SameOldStory]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

An airhead quoting an airhead ... this is journalism? It must be: it was in the New York Times.

“There may once have been a slight stigma about people reading alone, "

What social stigma -- reading alone in public -- is she talking about?!? :

Maybe none of her friends read for pleasure, and she's ashamed to be seen in public doing so?

[JSWolf]

I've had people ask me about my Sony Reader before. But not all that much and not recently.

Most devices out in the wild are cell phones of some kind.

[ClairePMR]

When I got my first Rocket eBook around 10 years ago, people constantly asked me what it was and what I was reading. Many assumed it was a larger Palm Pilot. Had some of my best impromptu conversations on the Metro-North Railroad with that device as an entree into friendships with my fellow commuters. Even led to a pretty good contracting gig once! So, not only not isolating, but a real icebreaker.

[J. Strnad]

I've had a couple of people ask about my Kobo. I compared it with a Kindle once, and we got to try each other's devices.

[TallMomof2]

I always have people ask me about my reader but I've only seen one, a Nook in the wild. (I did get my neighbor to order 5 Kindles last Christmas.)

[John K]

Originally Posted by eric11210

Yeah. . .well I live in Israel, a country which is both gadget crazy and where e readers are virtually unheard of. You'd think I'd be asked about my Sony Reader constantly. So far, one person asked me about it ...

Perhaps you're just not as cute as queentess?

[GeoffC]

perhaps instead of couples meeting as they 'walk their dogs', or in the supermarket aisles, they will, in future, meet and compare their ereaders.....

[SameOldStory]

NO, NO, NO.

If I were'nt married, I wouldn't want to scare anyone away by letting then see what I read.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

NO, NO, NO.

If I were'nt married, I wouldn't want to scare anyone away by letting then see what I read.

Like minded souls would not mind ....

[Mickey330]

“I think the Kindle sends the imperative ‘I’m busy, please don’t disturb me’ message when you are traveling on a plane or eating in a restaurant or relaxing at a resort,” she said, ...

“And that’s a good thing,” she said of the Kindle’s imperative. “It says, ‘I’m used to doing this, don’t pity me.’ ”

I had a hard time "getting" this article - this quote in particular really read wrong to me.

I guess I don't understand the "pity" part about reading a book [in public]. I truly does not compute to me.

Should I be worried that people may start an intervention for me - just so that others won't pity me 'cause I'm reading a book in, gasp, public?

And that's just one quote. There are a lot in this article where, I assume/get the impression, the author thinks it's a shameful, awful thing to be reading.

Hopefully, the message people get when they see me reading in public (whether on a reader or an actual paper book) is: "Go away! I'm reading here!" I want the isolation!

Or, am I missing something?

Marilyn

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

I've had a couple of people ask about my Kobo. I compared it with a Kindle once, and we got to try each other's devices.

You got to push her buttons and she got to turn your nob?

[GeoffC]

There you go, I said readers would be a good way to meet other folk !!!!

[narbeauchamp]

I always get asked if my Sony readers are Kindles.Usually that opens up discussion about what ereaders are,now that the readers are so much cheaper,I suspect won't get that question as often,and will see more of them.

I enjoy reading,and do so frequently,especially if I am traveling or dining alone-don't feel any more or less isolated-people will still come up and ask either what you are reading (or what the device is).

From an ebook standpoint,I just enjoy having a far lighter handbag and alot more reading material !

[Dopedangel]

I live in Singapore
I got asked a few weeks ago if my reader was an Ipad till then the Ipad had not arrived here so people did not know what it looked like I guess.
Now I have stopped taking my reader to and from work and am reading on my phone.
I have never seen one in an mrt but do see a lot of people reading pbacks or on thier Iphones, Blackberry, PSP, DS, WM phones and now have started seeing android phones as well.
Specialized readers haven't got much traction despite reading being a big thing here and
you see a lot of crowds in book stores etc.

[Mitchi]

I think, historically, there has been a stigma attached to the bookworm, and that actually came from the not-untrue notion that, if you were reading, you weren’t socializing with other people.

Uhuh. Yeah...stigma against smart people. I totally buy that (because as far as I know, that's the notion, right? If you read, you're at least somewhat intelligent).

There's something to be said about a person's natural charisma. If they give out the vibe of "I'm reading, leave me alone!" they're less likely to be disturbed because, *gasp* people can catch on to that! Likewise, when people don't mind the conversation, they put off the vibes that they are more approachable.

It's not about if you're holding paper or technology, it's about body language.